José Caballero’s 3-run home run in the fifth inning broke up a pitcher’s duel, lifting the New York Yankees to a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
Prior to Caballero’s homer, Rays starter Griffin Jax hadn’t allowed a hit and struck out eight Yankees. However, after striking out Cody Bellinger to begin the fifth, Jax walked Jasson Domínguez and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
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The right-hander then fell behind Caballero on a two-ball, one-strike count before the Yankees shortstop fouled off two pitches. Jax then left a changeup toward the middle of the strike zone that Caballero lifted into the left-field seats to break the scoreless tie.
Those three runs were more than enough for Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, who rebounded from giving up six runs in his previous start versus the Detroit Tigers. The second-year starter allowed one run and four hits over eight innings, striking out eight Rays batters.
Schlittler has allowed one run or fewer in five of his past six starts, lowering his ERA to an American League-leading 2.01. Only Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski has a lower ERA in MLB at 1.47.
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